When the USA Network first announced their upcoming reality singing competition called “Real Country,” we all had a good laugh when it was revealed that the judges of this supposed “real” country show would be none other than Shania Twain and Jake Owen. Regardless of how you feel about Shania, Jake, or their music, I think we could all agree these two are tough to define as “real country” in the way the term is regularly used today. In fact their careers have symbolized something quite the opposite.

Everything became a lot more interesting when it was revealed that the often hot-headed and highly-opinionated Travis Tritt would be joining the ranks of the USA show as judge #3. At least this would spice things up if nothing else, seeing how Tritt has been quick to criticize the current direction of country. Just in the recent past, Travis Tritt has called out some modern country artists for trying to be something they aren’t, he added a new verse to his song “Country Ain’t Country” criticizing CMT, and lashed out at Brantley Gilbert for disrespect among other things.

Well now Travis Tritt’s “team” has been revealed, and regardless of where this show goes, how many people watch, and who wins, Tritt has done a superb job picking out his contestants. His 7 selections will battle with 21 others for $10,000 and the opportunity to perform at Stagecoach as initial winners, with the final winner getting $100 grand and the opportunity to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.

I don’t think Hank done it this way, but if someone’s going to win, hopefully it’s Tritt’s hopefuls, four of which who’ve been featured prominently here on Saving Country Music recently. These are also perfect artists if you’re looking performers who’ve paid their dues, but haven’t received the attention they deserve from popular media.

Here’s what Saving Country Music has said about members of Team Tritt:

“They’ll tell you that Texas country has no ladies, but they’re shooting their gaze over some great ones, including Jamie Lin Wilson, Courtney Patton, Sunny Sweeney, Kaitlin Butts, and perennial of the Texas music tour circuit, Bri Bagwell. It takes no convincing to book her on the main stage of a festival right beside the boys because she brings the energy and party to her live shows with no diminishing returns. She’s a songwriter like many of the women of Texas music, but she’s an entertainer as well. Originally from Las Cruces, NM, she now lives in Austin, TX, and just released a new record called In My Defense.”

“You may not find anyone better suited to sing the old country classics from folks like George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Randy Travis than Tony Jackson. And this Navy brat turned Marine Corps enlistee turned country crooner can do it right on cue when called upon. Tony Jackson’s self-titled 2017 record includes renditions of such iconic songs like “The Grand Tour” by George Jones, and the often-covered “Nashville Cats,” along with original compositions that resonate especially with country music’s traditional crowd.

Though receiving little love from the mainstream, Jackson has garnered a strong following online, with his covers of old country classics often receiving views in the hundreds of thousands, to millions on YouTube and Facebook. He has a great story too, being first turned on to country music when he was living in Spain as a child, and met Randy Travis who was performing for service members. If country music ever had a traditional artist of color in the cue to break out, it would be Tony Jackson.”

“Somewhere, the spirit of the country music duo got lost. This isn’t just about the conjoining of two voices. It’s about the mixing of two perspectives on the same theme, telling a story from two angles, making the yearning in the heart that much more aching by adding two sob stories, or uplifting joy that is magnified that much more because it’s shared with someone else. This is the spirit with which the duo Porter Union from Springfield, Missouri approaches their craft. Consisting of Cole Michael Porter and Kendra Porter, the pair drives headlong into the lost art of the country music duo in their 2017, self-titled debut.”

“Originally formed in 2005 in the Houston area, the Scooter Brown Band didn’t release a proper album until 2009, but have since become part of the Southern rock side of the Texas music scene. Formed behind former United States Marine Scott Brown, the Southern sounds and classic Southern rock modes are thick with this band, including a chorus of backup singers to give that Gospel tinge to their recent record American Son. Having Southern rock legend Charlie Daniels sing on their recent single also gives The Scooter Brown Band some additional credence in the Southern Rock sphere.

After meandering along mostly in the Texas music scene and around Houston for years, The Scooter Brown Band was signed to the Nashville booking agency APA in 2016. American Son was released in collaboration with Red River, BFD, and Sony Orchard, giving the band a much bigger stage and audience than they’ve had before.”

Also on Team Tritt will be Copper Chief, who are a South Austin band who play what they describe as “rock ‘n’ roll country soul music.” Cody Purvis is a 22-year-old singer and songwriter who is originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, and is now living in Nashville. And filling out the team of seven is Dave Kennedy, who is a well-respected Nashville songwriter originally from Chattanooga, and someone who’s been on Saving Country Music’s radar in the past.

We’ll still have to see if “Real Country” is worth setting the DVR for, but seeing the list of hopefuls from Team Tritt, at least it will give a few worthy artists an opportunity at more exposure. The show premiers on November 13th.

I agree. I had no idea who they were until I saw Copper Chief open for Wade Bowen back in August. Their guitar player is a beast. He came back on for the closer with Bowen’s band and they really knocked it out.

Can anyone convince me I’m not just an out of touch, grumpy middle aged man in saying I can’t stand anything about these contestant type shows – regardless of who they prop up on here? I’m open to criticism.
I guess part of the reason is I’m not drawn to the more flashy “entertainer” side of music. A lot of my favorite artists probably wouldn’t last one round on these things, don’t have the right “stage presence,” and need more than one listen to appreciate.

I definitely AM an out of touch, grumpy middle-aged man! And I don’t care for these shows. It’s not the artists that compete in them that bugs me; it’s the ridiculously contrived nature of the shows. And, as you say, a person who is a great artist but doesn’t use flashy stagecraft would be rejected immediately by these shows.

I think that as soon as you consent to going on a singing contest show you’ve lowered your ‘ mystique ‘ factor …if you had any at all . you come across as desperate for success and willing to bend any which way to achieve it . you lessen your value by association with ” contests ” like these …..

I get sick every time I ear a GREAT singer on the VOICE who walks to the show holding mom or dad’s hand like a kindergarten kid and says to Adam or Blake ” coach me …teach me how to be a better singer ” WTF…? ADAM ? BLAKE ?( shania ?….jake owens ? ) ….how desperate do you need to be to throw your fate into the hands of a TV show catering to sponsors and the lowest common denominator fans with some of the least qualified ” singers ” ever judging how your ‘artistic’ life should go ?????? ……complete farce .

These shows are silly, and circumspect for actually launching the careers of artists. But if they’re going to happen, better they happen with some actual country music talent on them. This show may be terrible, we don’t know. But if it helps the name recognition of these artists, I’m all for it.

Also I have to say this: There’s a lot of folks talking a big game about “diversity” and the inclusion of women in country music these days, but what they really mean is bringing in a bunch of bad pop stars to satisfy arbitrary benchmarks based solely on census data. If they really cared about diversity, Tony Jackson would be a superstar right now, because there’s few who can sing “real” country music as good as him, and Bri Bagwell would be signed to a major label because she can write her own songs, and puts on a hell of a show. These two artists are on the cutting edge of integrating country with more diversity. It’s just the rest of the media is ignoring them. You can put Porter Union in that same boat. They often play on the “Outlaw” circuit which has very few women. People like to talk a big talk about diversity, and those same people probably scoff at a guy like Travis Tritt. But he really impressed me with these picks, digging deep to find talent that is worthy of the national spotlight, and talent that is diverse without compromising quality.

I get why you’re looking on the bright side and it’s a story worth following….personally I just have a hard time buying in.
The whole “if it’s going to happen” argument is a double edged sword. On the one hand I get it but it’s also like saying if bro country is going to happen, let’s hope it’s xyz. I’d prefer just avoiding it all together and fighting the good fight. Again, not a criticism of you posting this or following the story…

Hey, this thing may turn out to be a total shit show. Nobody reared back and reefed the premise of this show in the nuts harder when it was first announced than myself. I don’t even have cable, so I may not watch it. That said, I think you could make the case it’s already been effective at spreading the word about some great artists. Here and on social media, I see folks chiming in on how great these artists are, and others showing interest in them.

Bri Bagwell really is great especially now that she put out a project this year worthy of her talent. Meet her twice at a bar in Wichita performing for like 25 people. That sure as hell didn’t stop her from putting on a show that was worthy of a sold out stadium. she has great stage presence and Showmanship and that makes her a favorite in my book to win this. Not to mention she’s just want a nicest people out there.

I mean, I’m a 21 year old that listens to various types of music and I don’t really like reality shows. I only ever watched The Voice years ago to watch Blake Shelton and Adam Levine bicker back and fourth. However, my personality has been described as that of a grumpy old man, so there’s that.

But THIS ?……THIS is why you get into the music business ? Surely there are a million other more meaningful ways to spend your life OUTSIDE the music business if you can’t generate revenue creating it . If you aren’t an agent or a label , aren’t you in it at least a little bit for passion’s sake ? The joy of creating music for people ?

I had no plans on watching this show and have even poked fun at it, but “Team Tritt” is announced, and all of sudden, Now I am going to give this show a chance. I am just tickled that some quality acts are being given an opportunity to be on national tv.

Checkout Jake Owen’s pick for Jaida Dreyer also! Great voice, canadian, and world champion equestrian. She has been nominated for Canadian CMA awards and written many songs for other artists such as Eric Church and Dierks Bentley and wrote songs for the shows Nashville and Longmire.

Agree that those talent shows are stupid as hell and as far as possible from what i believe is “real country” but that said i envy the average american spectator who can see porter union and other serious acts on their tvs…also i can’t help but love Travis Tritt

I enjoyed American Idol- I like to see young performers get a national crack at the big time- that’s also where I saw Crystal Bowersox who I believe is a very real person and a very gifted writer/singer/performer. I also enjoyed Simon Cowell’s critiqing-

Will I watch this? I don’t know. I might because of Travis Tritt- Shania has lost her glimmer and I wouldn’t know Jake Owen form Adam, or Blake, or Sam….

I’m surprised to see Bri Bagwell on the show. I thought she’d be too big for it. Not going to knock anybody who wants to get their name out there. Might not lead to much but it at least leads to some exposure that helps with selling tickets.

@Trig, unless its a typo on the Billboard 100 chart… Meant to Be isn’t on the chart at all. But it’s still on Hot Country as #1 with Luke Combs at #2 with She Got the Best….
Pretty sure Meant to Be was in the top 40 last week on BB 100 chart… doesn’t make sense if its not charted on airplay or Hot 100, how could it be #1 on Hot Country. Unless its a website typo..?
I’m not an expert with BB’s rules. But seems suspicious.

Followup, Meant to be is only charting on Country Streaming BB chart at #1, no other charts though.(besides the main Hot Country)… I always thought The Hot 100 chart was making it go #1 on Hot Country Chart, not soley the streaming chart….

I think Travis Tritt has done his due diligence in picking talent. Tony Jackson will blow away anyone who has yet to hear him. Scooter Brown Band and Porter Union are terrific but at the end of the day If you have seen Dave Kennedy you KNOW!!! If you have yet to hear him you are going to be taken in by a raw talent that allows him to be himself! He is a man so full of talent it is scary good. So I’ll be watching cause Mr. Tritt you have won me over!!

Joe Val vers needs to be heard his guitar playing is compasereer erable to Travis is he a great singer Travis is my favorite give Joe Val vers a listen I think this is a great idea for this new country show the voice sucks how can a country singer say the crap their singing is good give me a break!!!

The only time that I’ve watched these shows was the year that Scotty McCreery won. I was a great fan of his voice and his songs selection. He demonstrated that you can win a popularity contest with country classic songs.

Why did Travis Tritt retire from making new music?
I mean Marty Stewart, Gene Watson, heck, even Bill Anderson continue to put out new albums/CD’s every couple of years. What the hell is Tritt’s problem? Ditto for Clint Black.

I don’t know if Travis or Clint ever retired from making new music,for all we know,they could be recording something now.I don’t know.But,I do know a lot of radio won’t play their songs.That’s a given.(WSM did play Clint Black’s last CD.I remember hearing it on there.)

One time I had lucnh @ an Arbys,and this radio station was doing a live remote there.A Travis Tritt fan came up to the stations booth,and really got after them for not playing his new song @ that time.